Designing a low-rent apartment can be restricting. Usually, you have to return the space in the same state that you found it, and you can never be sure how long you'll stay. However, you can reconceive the space temporarily by "resurfacing."

...A paint color can recode the language of the space for your life. Replacing light fixtures, doors, hardware, or adding floor surfaces doesn't inflict any permanent damage or cost much. In my case, the furniture also needed to be simple and portable. The result is a set of contemporary, personal objects that floats inside a resurfaced historic box.

Design Tip:

If you don't have much money, let found materials and objects drive the design of your space, and let your innovation be in how you put these things together.